WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 May 1918, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

COLOSSAL BATTLE EXPECTED ALLIES' CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS. London, May 12. Mr. Gibbs writes: Our armies are waiting expectantly another violent blow by the masses of Germans. They believe, as far as I know from the talk of officers here and there, that the enemy this time will be held and shattered. He has nothing like the same chance as on March 21, when he had great numbers, the first fever of enthusiasm, and a wider line of attack, which we held thinly in proportion to the strength brought against us. If he fails this time they believe Germany's great hopes will be utterly destroyed. Meanwhile, possibly where the front is quietest the menace will be greatest. The Germans, as far as possible, are secretly in the night time arranging every detail for a colossal battle.— ENEMY ATTACK REPULSED. WITH HEAVY LOSSES London, May 12. A French communique reports: A violent bombardment west of MaillyRaineval was followed by an attack on our new positions north-west of YilliersSoreil, which was completely repulsed with heavy losses. There was a lively artillery duel on the right bank of the Meuse. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. DELAY IN OFFENSIVE. CAUSED BY ALLIES' ARTILLERY. London, May 12. The United Press correspondent at British headquarters states that the delay in the offensive is less due to the difficulty of bringing heavy artillery into position than of restoring the devastated communications. The enemy is desperately busy making and mending roads, which our gunners and airmen are constantly damaging. French aviators report that German reserves and munitions continue accumulating between the Somme and Arras. — United Service.

FRENCH POSITION IMPROVED. A RAID REPULSED. London, May 12. Tn a successful local operation tha French improved their positions northward of Kemmel village. We repulsed a raid on the YpresComineg canal. Enemy artillery is active in the Ancre sector, southward of Albert, and against our forward positions eastward of Loos and southward of Voormezeele.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. ON THE BATTLE-FRONT. j THE ENEMY BEHIND WITH HIS TIME-TABLE. Received May 13, 9.50 p.m. London, May 12. Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters writes on the 12th: The weather is grey and cheerless on most of tho battle-front. The enemy has fallen considerably behind his amended time-table. In a diary found on a captured German officer is an entry showing that a certain big attack planned from Albert had been abandoned because the Second Naval Division had broken into Albert and indulged in a wholesale riot. The diary added that the division had been dealt with for disorderly behaviour and pillage. The French troops operating along the gully of Wyverbeek, running south of Diekebußcli Land to the eastern foot of Mount Kemmel, had considerable success.—Reuter.

A WAVE OF DISCONTENT. SWEEPING OVER GERMANY. THE INSOLENT REJECTION OP THE FRANCHISE. Received May 13, 8.30 p.m. London, May 12. The Times' Hague correspondent states that the Crown [Prince is involved in the dispute that is raging over the franchise, and that he telegraphed to Count von Spee congratulating him on his motion proposing to shelve the Reform Bill until after the war. The German press, discussing the incident, notes the increased military interference in domestic and foreign policy. It is anticipated that Count Hertling will be obliged to adopt some jugglery in order to delay the Reform Bill and gain time. The Vorwaerts says that the spirit of freedom and the spirit of conquest being mutually exclusive, they cannot establish a military dictator in the Ukraine and adopt a democratic pose at. home. The Bremen Burger Zeitung declares that a great wave of discontent is sweeping over the people, due to the costly result of the battles, the burden of expenditure, and the insolent rejection of equal suffrage. MACKENSEN TAKES A HAND. London, May 12. It is reported that General Mackensen i«i commanding between the Somme nii Arras.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.